Lantern bracket for boats



Nov. 15, 1960 w. A HIGGINS LANTERN BRACKET FOR BOATS Filed Sept. 15, 1959 William A. Higgins Zea/47694 ATTORNEY United States Patent LANTERN BRACKET FGRBOA-TS William ArHiggins, 5516 Meamlering Road, Fort Worth,.Tex.

Filed Sept.15-, 1-959, S81.-N0.-' 840,073

2 Claims. (Cl.-2407.5)

This invention relates to a lantern holder for boats, and it concerns more particularly a holder for attachment of a gasoline lantern, such as the well known Coleman lantern to the upper rail of a gunwale of a plastic boat.

The lantern holder of the invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with plastic boats of the type which are commonly propelled by outboard motors, and which as ordinarily constructed have molded upper rails of hollow form, continuous with the molded sides of the boat, characterized'by top portions extending inwardly from the sides of the boat and inner wall portions depending from the inner edges of the top portions.

An object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder having means for removably connecting it to an upper rail of a boat as described, and which is adjustable whereby it is adapted for use in conjunction with boats having upper rails of various shapes and dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder as described which is adapted to support a lantern in substantially vertical position independently of the inclination of the sides of the boat relative to the vertical plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder as described which is adapted to securely support a lantern on one side of a boat while at the same time avoiding damage to the boat resulting from use of the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern holder as described which is of simple, sturdy construction, is adapted to be fabricated inexpensively, and is eificient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a lantern supported on one side of a boat by a holder embodying the invention, the boat being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, showing the upper rail of the boat in transverse section;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a gunwale of a plastic boat, which is shown fragmentarily. The gunwale 1 has a molded upper rail 2, which is of hollow form, and is continuous with the adjacent side of the boat. The rail 2 is characterized by a top portion 3, which extends inwardly from the adjacent side of the boat, and an inner wall portion 4 which depends from the inner edge of the top portion 3.

The numeral 5 indicates generally a gasoline lanter 2,950,601 Patented Nov. 15, 1960 of the Coleman type. The lantern 5 has a circular base 6, which comprises its fuel tank, and on which it is adapted to be supported. A peripheral flange 7 is formed on the under side of the base 6, and depends therefrom. The lantern 5 has a wire bail 8 pivotally connected to opposite sides thereof, from which it is adapted to be suspended.

angul-arly adjacent its lowermost extremity to form an integral hook 12, which extends outwardly and upwardly, and inwardlyagain, relative thereto. The book 12 is engageable under the lower edge of the peripheral flange 7 of the base 6- of the lantern 5. The inner edge of the inwardly extending portion of the hook 12 is curved, as at 13, whereby it is conformable to the inner periphery of the flange 7.

An end. portion of the plate 10 opposite the depending end portion 11, indicated by the numeral 14, extends inwardly beyond the inner wall portion 4 of the upper rail 2, and is bent upwardly along its longitudinal center line to form an upstanding longitudinal flange 15. The flange 15 has a longitudinal slot 16 therein which is substantially coextensive with its length.

An elongated, substantially rectangular, flat metal plate 17 overlies the inner wall portion 4 of the upper rail 2, and is arranged transversely thereof. The plate 17 is bent angularly adjacent its lower end to form an integral hook 18, which extends outwardly and upwardly relative thereto. The hook 18 is engageable under the lower edge of the inner wall portion 4 of the upper rail 2.

A portion of the plate 17 adjacent its upper end extends upwardly above the top portion 3 of the upper rail 2, and is bent inwardly along its longitudinal center line to form an inwardly extending longitudinal flange 19. The flange 19 has a longitudinal slot 20 therein which is substantially coextensive with its length.

The upstanding flange 15 of the plate 10 and the inwardly extending flange 19 of the plate 17 are arranged in juxtaposed relation to each other, and are connected by a bolt 21, which is inserted through the slots 16 and 20 and has a washer 22, a tubular spacer element 23, and a wing nut 24 applied thereto, whereby the plates 10 and 17 are adjustable pivotally and longitudinally relative to each other.

An elongated, substantially rectangular, fiat metal link 25, which has a longitudinal slot 26 therein, beginning at one of its ends, is arranged in juxtaposed relation to the flanges 15 and 19 of the plates 10 and 17, and is connected thereto by the bolt 21, whereby the link 25 is adjustable pivotally and longitudinally relative to the plates 10 and 17.

The link 25 has an inclined, angular slot 27 therein which extends inwardly from one of its longitudinal edges, adjacent the end thereof opposite the longitudinal slot 26, and forms an integral hook 28. The hook 28 normally faces upwardly, and extends outwardly from the point of connection of the link 25 to the flanges 15 and 19. The hook 28 is engageable with the bail 8 of the lantern 5, whereby the bail 8 is securely fastened to the link 25.

As shown in Figure 6, a substantially rectangular plate the top side of the plate 10,

a side rail of hollow form, continuous with the adjacent side of the boat, and characterized by a. top portion extending inwardly from the adjacent side of the boat and an inner wall portion depending from the inner edge of the top portion, a gasoline lantern having a flat bottom, circular base, and having a depending peripheral l flange on the under side of the base, and a wire bail pivotally connected to opposite sides of the lantern, and a holder for attachment of the lantern to the side rail of the boat comprising an elongated, angularly bent metal plate normally extending across the top portion of the rail and having a depending end portion overlying the adjacent side of the boat, a hook on the depending end portion of the plate engageable under the depending peripheral flange of the base of the lantern and conformable to the inner periphery thereof, means for securing the plate to the rail comprising a second elongated, angularly bent plate having means connecting it at one end to the inner end of the first mentioned plate for pivotal and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto,

the second plate depending from the first plate and over- 7 lying the inner wall portion of the rail, and a hook on the lower end of the second plate engageable under the lower edge of the inner wall portion of the rail, and a link having means connecting it at one end to the plate for pivotal and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, the link having a hook on its free end engageable with the bail of the lantern whereby the bail is securely fastened to the link. i

2. The structure of claim 1, the second plate being connected at one end to the inner end of'the first plate, for pivotal and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, by means comprising juxtaposed flanges on the respective plates having longitudinal slots therein substantially co-extensive therewith, and a bolt extending through the respective slots and having a nut applied thereto, and the link being connected at one end to the connected ends of the first and second plates, for pivotal and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, by means including a longitudinal slot in the link, the link being arranged in juxtaposed relation to the flanges of the plates and the bolt extending through the slot of the link, as well as the slots of the flanges, whereby the link is connected to the flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,837 Travis July 2, 1907 1,016,723 West Feb. 6, 1912 2,753,439 Greenfield July 3, 1956 2,875,974 Albent a Mar. 3, 1959 

